Judiciary of Louisiana
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The Judiciary of Louisiana is defined under the Constitution and law of Louisiana and is composed of the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal, the District Courts, the Justice of the Peace Courts, the Mayor's Courts, the City Courts, and the Parish Courts. The Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court is the chief administrator of the judiciary, and its administration is aided by the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, and the Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort. It is composed of seven justices and meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
The Court has original jurisdiction over matters arising from disciplinary matters involving the bench and bar.[1] The Court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over any case where a law or ordinance of this state has been declared unconstitutional or when a defendant has been convicted of a capital crime and the death penalty has actually been imposed.[2] The Court has general supervisory and rule making authority over all the lower state courts.[3] Death penalty appeals are taken as a matter of right. All other review of lower courts in the state is obtained by the writ of certiorari process.[4][5] The Louisiana Supreme Court may entertain recommendations from the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana on certain questions involving judges.
Judges serve for ten years.
The Court has promulgated the Rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Rules of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana.
The Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Louisiana serves as a research arm for the Supreme Court and often acts as a resource center where ideas for simplifying and expediting judicial procedures and/or correcting shortcomings in the system are studied.
Courts of Appeal
The Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal are the intermediate appellate courts and have appellate jurisdiction over all civil matters, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and most criminal cases that are triable by a jury. A court of appeal also has supervisory jurisdiction to review interlocutory orders and decrees in cases which are heard in the trial courts within their circuits.
There are five circuits. Each circuit is subdivided into three districts.
Judges serve for ten years.
District courts
The District courts of Louisiana are the main trial courts of general jurisdiction.
Parish and city courts
The parish and city courts hear misdemeanor, juvenile, traffic, small claims, and family law cases.
Mayors' courts
The Louisiana Mayors' Courts hears misdemeanor and traffic cases, as well as utility debts within the municipality of less than $5,000.[6]
Justice of the Peace Courts
The Justice of the Peace Courts of Louisiana hear small claims cases.
